Brush supporting and vibrating mechanism for web-coating machines



April 22, 1941'. M. L wooDRuFFErAL.

BRUSH SUPPORTING AND VIBRATNG MECHANISM FOR WEB-COATING MACHINES Filed Jupe 21, 193 9 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENToRs Mesem Lwoqmurr, LYNN B. CAse, (Hamas ADlcxwwr ma .imm Kuma April 22, 1941 M. L. WQODRUFIv ErAL 2,239,409

`BRUSH SUPPORTING AND VIBRATING MECHANISM FOR. WEB-COATING MACHINES Filed June 21, 1939 5 `Sheets-Sheet 2 @Zag 34 l f $5' 29%, L g8 Z i N253 i gf 45 4 51 53 t l 50 l 4g J2f/Firm 6 A- 46 Y I lNvr-:NToRs l Menem LWoooRuFF, LYNN B.C,Ase

l l v CHARLES A.D|c HAur-mi Joan kuPKA ATT RN EYS April 22, 1941. M. L. WOODRUFF ETAL' BRUSH SUPPORTING AND VIBRATING MECHANISM FOR WEB-COATING HACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3A Mm w, mm ...nl 4 Mm W N c., l f L o Q @I d. 8 7 I 4. #1/ 0 4 M.. ww w 2, f Y :5., Y. M 'M 9 4 v\ s 7,.\ \\\\9\ V 2E; ,m 8 Vw AQ /7/7 4 Patented Apr. 22, 1941 BRUSH SUPPORTING AND VIBRATING MECHANISMv .FOR WEB-COATING Mg!- CHINES Morgan L. woodrulr, wilmette, nl., and Lynn B.

Case, Charles A. Diclnaut, and John Kupka,

New Brunswick, N. J.,

assignors to John Waldron CorporatiomNew Brunswick, N. J., a .corporation ot New Jersey Application June 21, 1939; `Serial N0. 280.226

18 Claims.-

This invention relates to brush-supporting and vibrating mechanism for web-'coating machines.

It has heretofore been suggested lto use one or more brushes vibrating transverselyof a coated `web forl the purpose of4 finishing the coating operation. In a high speed coating machine, the `brush must vibrate ata very high frequency in order satisfactorily to nish the coating operation. The vibrating brush acquiresconsiderable momentum and provision must be made to prevent the creation of shocks at the end ofthe strokes by reason of such momentum as otherwise vibrational effects vwill be set up in the machine as well as in the vibrating parts.

An object of this invention is the provision of brush-supporting and vibrating means capable of high speed vibration without setting up objectionable vibraticnsin the coating machine and which iseffective and economical in operation as Well as being of simple construction and light weight.

In one embodiment of the invention, the brush is supported at each end by a resilient strip and vibration is effected of the brush by means of a duplex piston arranged in a cylinder open at both ends to atmosphere and divided by an apertured partition into two chambers, each of which contains a piston head connected A,by a rod passing through the aperture in the cylinder partition. The piston is attached to the brush and means operated in synchronismy with the web are provided for supplying motivating uid under pressure a1- ternately to the two chambers between the par-v tition and the piston heads and alternately venting said chambers. Means also are supplied forcontrolling the pressure of the motivating iluid responsive to the frequency of piston vibration so that the pressure is increased with increase of brush vibr'ation frequency and vice versa;

Other objects, novel features andadvantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specication ings, wherein:

Fig. 1 4is a fragmentary plan view chine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1; 4 i Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a section. on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and v i. l

Fig. 6 is Ian enlarged section of the pressure controlling valve illustrated inFig. 5 in elevation.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a web I0 of freshly of a ma-4 and accompanying drawcoated materialis fed beneath a vibrating brush II` over suitable supporting means I2. Each end of the brush bar is provided with a metal insert I3 attached tothe bar by screws 'I4 and having a transverse groove. Within the' groove is seated a plate I5 carried by a bracket I6. ,bracket is provided a rotatable eccentric I1 adapted to engage a plate I8 interposed between the eccentric and the top of the brush bar. The

eccentric serves to hold the brush bar firmly against the bracket with the plate I5 acting to anchor the brush bar to the bracket.

To the upper end of each bracket `I6 is attached the upper end 'of a resilient member I9, preferably a strip of spring steel or the like and the lower end of each member I9 is attached to a carriage slidably mounted on a hollow post 2| supported by a frame 22. In each post is provided a rotatable screw-threaded stem 23 equipped with a hand wheel 24. Each post 2| is provided with longitudinal diametrically opposed slots 25 through which extends a bar 26 attached at either end to the associated carriage 20, the bar being provided with an interior threaded bore co-operating with the screwthreaded stem 23. Vertical adjustment of either Acarriage 20 is effected by rotation of the correspondingzhand wheel 24;

A yoke 21 straddles the left` hand resilient member I9 and has its ends attached `to the left hand bracket I6. In alinement with vthe yoke 21 is a cylinder 28 open at each end to atmosphere and in which isslidably mounted a duplex piston 29 having a rod 29a connecting I the two-pistons. 'Ihe right hand end of the piston is .connected by a resilient strip 30 with the yokev21. Reciprocation of the piston is eiected by means later to be 'described and by virtueI of the interconnection of the piston to the brush II, the latter is caused to vibrate transversely of the strip III.

The cylinder 28 is provided with a central partition 3I. through which extends the rod 29a of the duplex piston, the cylinder thus being divided into a left'hand and a right-hand chamber, each of'which is provided with a pair of ports, one

of which is an inlet port Vand the.A other of which is an outlet port. Compressed air is supplied to the left-hand chamber through the flexible conduit 33. and air is supplied to the right-hand chamber through the flexible conduit 32. Air

. is ldischarged from the left-hand chamber through the flexible conduit and air isl -discharged' from the right-hand cham the flexible conduit 34.

In each.

erthrough I -tions and terminate in arcuate grooves.

A bracket 36 is supported by the frame 22 and is provided with a vertical bore in the upper end of which is arranged the lower end of a valve housing 31, said housing having a flange 38 resting on the top surface of the bracket 36.

A collar 39 rests upon the top surface of the flange i 38` and is attached to the bracket 36 by bolts 40 passing through arcuate slots in the flange 38 (Fig. 5). A handle 4I is attached to an extension of the housing 31 for eiecting arcuate adjustment of the housing. In the upper end of the extension is provided a passageway 42 communicating with a vent pipe 43 leading to atmosphere. Below the'housing 31 is provided .n a second cylindrical 'valve housing 44 which is vided a passageway which is continuously in communication with the passageway 42. Arcuately spaced branch passageways .5I and 52 extend radially from the passageway 50 to the periphery of the valve body at different eleva- In the valve casing are provided ports 53 and 54 communicating respectively with passageways 55 and 56 in the bracket 36 which in turn communicate respectively with the conduits 34 and 35. Ro-

tation of the valve body successively connects the conduits 34 and 35 to atmosphere through the passageway 43, thus alternately venting the two chambers of the cylinder 28. In the lower part of the valve body are providedl two arcuately spaced longitudinal grooves or cut-outs 51 and 58 at diierent elevations.. Also, in the valve casing 44 are provided longitudinally alined and spaced ports 59 and 6D respectively in communication with the conduits 32 and 33 and adapted to have the grooves 51 and 58 register respec- J y tively therewith. Between the ports 59| and 60,

the housing 44 is provided with a port 6&2 adapted to have the grooves 51 and 58 register alternately therewith and which communicates with a peripheral groove 63 which in turn communicates with a'passageway 64 in the bracket 36. Rotation of the valve body thus brings: the left and right hand chambers of the cylinder 28 alternately into communication with the passageway 64 through the intermediary of the conduits 32 and 33. The passageway 64 communicates with a source of compressed air as will later be described and the arrangement of the various ports and passageways above referred to is such that when the left hand chamber of the cylinder 28 is in communication with the passageway 64 the right hand chamber is iri communication with the vent pipe 43 and vice vers'a. Thus, rotation of the valve body is'effective to cause reciprocation of the double-headed piston with consequent vibration of the brush Il, the freis provided with an arm 1| carried by a shaft 12, counter-clockwise rotation of which is opposed by the spring 13. A second arm 14 carried by the shaft 12 has its outer end connected by a link 15 with one end of a rocker arm 16. The interior mechanism of the governor, not shown here, is actuated by the shaft 61 and is of such structure that increase and decrease in speed of the shaft 61 rotates the shaft 12 counter-clockwise and clockwise respectively. The shaft 69 is driven from the same drive shaft as the feed means (not shown) for the web I6 so that the feed rate of the web is synchronized l with the governor.

quency of vibration of the brush being dependent upon the rotational speed of the valve body 45.

AThe shaft 49 is provided with a spur gear 65 which meshes with a spur gear 66 on a governor shaft 61 and a spur gear 68 on a drive shaft 69, the latter of which is provided with pulleys 69a by means of which power may be furnished' through the medium of abelt. A governor 18 'ner surf-ace of the chamber.

The passageway 64 communicates with a generally conical chamber 11 having an annular portion 11al of enlarged diameter and also having an inlet 18 which communicates through a pipe 18a with a source of compressed air (not shown). In the chamber 11, means are provided for controlling the pressure of air supplied through the passageway 64 to the cylinder 28 in response to variation in the speed of the web i9 so that the pressure of the air supplied to the cylinder 28 as well as the rate of flow of such air varies with a change of frequency of vibration of the bar Il resulting from a change of the feed rate of the web l0. 'I'he pressure regulating device herein illustrated and describedis a commercial one obtainable in vthe'open market and it is to be understood that other similar devices may be used for the purpose of regulating the pressure of the air supplied to the charnber 28.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, a generally conical plug 19 is arranged in the chamber 11 and'is provided with two surfaces and 8l. forming air-tight seals above and below the end of the Ipassageway 64. The plug 19 is provided with an axial bore 19aand a piston 82 is slidably contained therein. The upper end of the bore is closed by a cap 83 threaded on to the upper end of the plug 19 and a spring 84 is interposed between the cap 83 and a cover 85 screwed into the upper end of the chamber 11, the spring 84 tending to maintainthe plug 19 with the surfaces 80 and 8l in sealing contact with the in- The piston 82 is connected to a rod 86 with a slight clearance between the outer surface of the rod and the in:

ner surface of the piston and the upper end of the rodis supported by the cap 83 while the lower end of the rod extends through the lower portion of the plug 19. A stufng box 81 is provided at the lower end of the rod 86 to form an air tight seal therewith.

The plug 19 is provided with passageways 89 leading from the exterior of the plug to the bore 19a, these passageways being provided with screens 90 at their outer ends. The piston- 82 is provided with ports 9| providing communication between the passageways 96 and the opposite ends of the bore 19a by way of the passageway provided along the rod 86 due to the clearance between it and the interior surface of the piston. Also, the plug 19 is provided with ports 92 leading to an annular cut-out in the plug 19,`

` by mea ports 92 with'the piston in the position shown in Fig. 6. .The position of the piston is dependent upon the position of the rocker arm 16 and a spring 94 tends to hold the bottom end of(4 the rod 86 in contact with the .end ofthe rocker arm 16.

Air from the pipe 18a enters the chamber 11 and then flows `through the passageways 89 and theenlarged portion 93 of the plug bore and out through the ports 82 to the passageway 6l,

4of which it is supplied to the distributing valve. Some air passes through the 'ports 8l to the opposite ends of the piston 62 thereby producing a balanced effect in the piston. A change of speed in the web I6 produces movement of the rocker arm 16 under the influence ofthe governor with consequent movement of the rod 86 and piston 82, thereby varying the ex tent of communication between the passageways 8! and the ports 92 with consequent variation in the pressure of the air supplied to the cylinder 28. The pressure of the air supplied to the cylinder 28 as well as the rate of flow of'such air varies with a change of frequency of the vibration of the bar II resulting from change of the feed rate of the web I and the arrangethe cut-od by rotation of the valve housing 31.

Variation of the compression and expansion cyclev may thus be effected to meet conditions as desired.

In the foregoing description, reference has been made to Ionly one vibrating brush and vibrator therefor. It is, however, contemplated that there may be a plurality of brushes arrangedv adjacent each other with a like number of vibrators all supplied with motivating fluid by asingle valve. Such valve will differ from the valve shown only by havingv the necessary additional passageways and ports to supply air to a plurality of cylinders instead of a single cylinder, the arrangement of such ports i and passageways being such that each brush vibrates out of phase with each remaining brush. In Fig. l are illustrated additional posts for mounting a second pair of carriages 28 and brush-supporting attachments. While specific reference has been made to air as the attached to one end of said brush, means for supplying compressed air to said vibrator and discharging air therefrom, said means including a rotatable valve controlling the flow of air to and from said vibrator, and means .for rotating said valve.

3.- A device of the character described comprising a pair of parallel resilient members fixed at corresponding ends, Va bracket attached to the free end of each member, a brush having its ends connected to said brackets, a pneumatic vibrator attachedto one end of said brush, means for supplyingicompressed air to said vibrator and discharging air therefrom, said means including a rotatable valve controlling the flow of air to and from said vibrator, means for rotating said valve, and means regulated by the rotational speed of said valve for controlling the pressure of the air supplied to said vibrator.

4. A device of the character describedcomprising a pair of parallel resilient members fixed at corresponding ends, a bracket attached to the free end of each member and extending obliquely therefrom toward the other bracket, a brush "'having its ends connected to said brackets, a

cylinder having a centrally apertured transverse partition and open to atmosphere at each end, a

Y 'rod extending through said partition and having motivating fluid, it is to be understood that the a piston connected toeach end,l connections between one -piston and said brush, an inlet and outlet port in said cylinder at either side of said partition, a cylindrical valve housing having a supply port together with aflrst pair of axially .spaced ports communicating with said cylinder inlet ports and a/secondpair of axially spaced ports communicating with said cylinder outlet ports, a rotatable valve in said housing having a pair of arcuately spaced longitudinal cutouts adapted alternately to connect said supply port to each of said first pair of ports and an axial passageway leading to atmosphere with two arcuately spaced branches adapted alternately to connect said passageway to each of said secnd pair of ports, a source of motivating fluid under pres-l sure in -communication with said supply port, and means for rotating said valve.

5. A device of the character described comprisving a pair of parallel resilient members fixed at corresponding ends, a bracket attached to the free end of each member and extending obliquely 1 .an outlet port in said cylinder at either side of said partition, a cylindrical valve-housing having a supply port together with a first pair of axially spaced ports communicating with said cylinder inlet ports and a second pair of axially spaced ports communicating with said cylinder. outlet ports, a rotatable valve in said housing having a pair of arcuately spaced longitudinal cutouts adapted alternately ,to connect said supply port to each of said first pair of ports and an axial passageway leading to atmosphere with two arcucorresponding ends, a bracket attached to the free end of each member, a brush having its ends cpnnected to said brackets, a pneumatic vibrator ately spaced branches adapted alternately to connect said passageway to each of said second pair of ports, a source of motivating fluid under pressure in communication with said supplyport,

means for rotating said valve, and means responsive to the rotational speed of said valve for controlling the pressure of the air supplied to said passageway.

6. A device of the character described comprising a brush, means supporting said brush for vibratory movement, a iiuid actuated vibrator ccnnected to said brush and having inlet and outlet ports, a source of motivating iluid under pressure, means including a valve housing`and a rotatable valve ltherein for supplying iiuid to and discharging uid from said vibrator, said valve housing having ports communicating with said vibrator ports and said valve having passageways adapted for co-operation with said casing ports upon rotation of said valve alternately to connectsaid vibrator to said vfluid source and vent said vibrator, and means to rotate said valve.

7. A device ofthe character described comprising a brush, means supporting said brush for vvibratory movement, a pneumatic vibrator convalve having passageways adapted for cooperation with said casing ports upon rotation of said valve alternately to connect said vibrator to said air source and vent said vibrator, means to. rotate said valve and means responsive to the rotational speed of said valveA for controlling the pressure of the air supplied to the vibrator.

8. A device of the character described comprising a brush, means supporting said brush for vibratory movement, a cylinder having a centrally apertured transverse partition, a rod extending through said partition and having a piston connected to each end, connections between one piston and saidbrush, an inlet and outlet port in said cylinder at either side of said partition, a cylindrical housing, a rotatable valve in said housing, a source ofV compressed air, said housing having ports communicating with said cylinder ports and said valve having passageways connected to said air source and* adapted for cooperation with said ports upon rotation of said valve alternately to connect each chamber to said compressed air source and to vent said chamber, and means for rotating said A,valve.

9. A device of the character described comprising a brush, means supporting said brush for vibratory movement, a cylinder having a centrally apertured transverse partition, a rod extending through said partition and having a piston connected to each end, connections between one piston and said brush, an inlet and outlet port in said cylinder at either side of said partition, a cylindrical housing, a rotatable valve in said housing, a source of compressed air, said housing having ports communicating with said cylinder ports and said valve havingpassage- -ways connected to said air source and adapted for cooperation with said ports upon rotation of said valve alternately to connect each chamber' to said compressed air source and to vent said chamber, means for rotating! said valve, and means responsive to the rotational speed of said 'valve for regulating the pressure of the air delivered to said cylinder.

10. A device. according to claim 6 in which said brush-supporting means comprises a pair of resilient members iixed at corresponding ends, a bracket attached to the free end of each member and extending obliquely therefrom toward. the

other bracket and connections between said brackets and the ends of said brush.

brush-supporting means comprises a pair oferesilient members iixed at corresponding ends, a

bracket attached to the free end of each member and extending obliquely therefrom toward the other bracket and connections between said brackets and the ends of said brush.

12. A device according to claim 8 wherein said brush-supporting means comprises a pair of resilient members fixed at corresponding ends, a bracket attached to the free end of each member and extending obliquely therefrom toward the other bracket and connections between said brackets and the ends of said brush.

13. A device according to claim 9 wherein said brush-supporting means comprises a pair of resilient members fixed atcorresponding ends, a bracket attached to the free end of each member and extending obliquely therefrom toward the other vbracket and connections vbetween said brackets and the ends of said brush.

14. A device of the character described comprising a brush, means supporting said brush for vibratory movement, a pneumatic vibrator connected to said brush and having inlet and outlet ports, a source of compressed air, a two-part cylindrical valve housing having its n rst part arranged for arcuate adjustment, said rst housing part having a iirst pair of axially spaced portsv communicating with said vibrator outlet ports and said second housing part having a supply port together with a second pair of axially spaced ports communicating with said vibrator inlet ports, a rotatable valve in said housing having a pair of arcuately spaced longitudinal cutouts adapted alternately to connect said supply port to each of said second pair of ports, and an axial passageway leading to atmosphere with two arcuately spaced branches adapted alternately to connect said passageway to each of said first pair of ports, a source of motivating iiuid under pressure, in communication with said supply port, and means for rotating said valve.

15. A device according to claim 14 characterized by means responsive to the rotational speed of said valve forl controlling the pressure of the motivating uidsupplied to said passageway.

16. A device of the character described com'- prising a pair of resilient members iixed at corresponding ends, a bracket attached to the free end of each member and extending obliquely therefrom toward the other bracket, a transverse bar on each bracket, a brush having a grooved plate at each end for receiving said bar and an eccentric rotatably supported by said bracket for engagement with said brush to hold the latter with the bar arranged inthe plate groove.

17. A'device of the character described comprising a brush, means supporting said brush for l vibratory movement. a huid-actuated vibrator connected to said brush and having inlet andv -and discharging iiuid from said vibrator, said valve housing having ports communicating with said vibrator ports and said valve having passageways adapted for co-operatlon with said casing ports upon rotation of said valve'alternately to connect said vibrator to said air source and vent said vibrator; means to rotate said-valve, and means responsive .to the rotational speed of said valve for controlling the pressure of the motivating iluid supplied to the vibraton 18. A device of the character described comprising a. brush, means supporting said .brush for vibratcry movement, a cylinder having a centrally apertured transverse partition and open to atmosphere at both ends, 'a rod extending through said partition and having a piston connected to each end, connections between one piston and said brush,v an inlet and an outlet port in said cylinder at either side of said parti- 4tion,a cylindrical housing, a rotatable valve in said housing, a source of motivating fluid under pressure, said housing having ports communicating with said cylinder ports and said valve hav- .vent said chamber,

ing passageways connected to said iluid source and adapted for co-operation with said ports upon rotation of said valve alternately to connect each chamber to said uid sourceand to and means for rotating said valve.

MORGAN L. WOODRUFF.

LYNN B. CASE.

CHARLES A. DICKHAUT.

J QHN KUPKA. 

